NEW DELHI: Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Sanjay Raut on Sunday made a startling accusation, claiming that Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Union Minister Amit Shah, and Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis actively sought to ensure Nitin Gadkari’s defeat in the Nagpur Lok Sabha constituency.
In an article published in the Shiv Sena (UBT) mouthpiece “Saamna,” Raut alleged that Fadnavis reluctantly joined Gadkari’s campaign only after realizing that the Union minister’s victory was inevitable. “Modi, Shah, and Fadnavis worked for Gadkari’s defeat in Nagpur. Fadnavis unwillingly joined the campaign for Gadkari when he realized he couldn’t be defeated. The RSS people in Nagpur are openly saying Fadnavis helped the opposition to get Gadkari defeated,” Raut wrote.
Raut also accused Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde of distributing substantial amounts of money in every constituency and using his influence to undermine candidates from the Ajit Pawar-led NCP. Additionally, he took a jibe at Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, suggesting he would be replaced if the Modi-Shah government secured another term following the Lok Sabha elections.
The Maharashtra Lok Sabha elections were conducted across five phases from April 19 to May 20, covering all 48 seats in the state.
In response to Raut’s claims, state BJP chief Chandrasekhar Bawankule vehemently dismissed the allegations, labeling Raut as “delusional.” Bawankule emphasized the BJP’s unity, stating, “The BJP is not a party but a family. People who have always played politics of factionalism will never understand family bonds. Modi, Shah, Yogi Adityanath, Gadkari, and Fadnavis are part of the BJP family. We always work on the principle of nation first, then party, and last self.”
Bawankule further challenged Raut to reflect on his own alleged attempts to become the chief minister in 2019 when the undivided Shiv Sena formed an alliance with the NCP and Congress.
